The Sun. — London, England, 1864-02-25 00:00:00

Complimentary Dinner to Kr. Benjamin Webster. Last night a compiimentary dinner was given to Mr. Benjamin Webs ter, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street, on the occasion of the presenta tion to him of a testimonial in token of his valuable services as Master of the Dramatic College, in recog nition of his private worth, and of his eminent talents as a dramatic artist. The chair was taken by Mr. Robert Bell, and there were about 120 or 130 gentlemen present connected with the drama, lite rature, and the arts. After the removal of the cloth, The CHAIRMAN proposed in very felicitous and appropriate terms the usual and loyal and patriotic toasts. Mr. MARE LEMON, in responding to the toast of the volunteers, said that they were all aware of the pleasantries that could be perpetrated by one of the best comic writers of our time, and he never perpe trated a greater one than when he selected me to answer for the volunteers. I can only say that I was a volunteer—a private in the fullest sense—(laugh ter)—but I was declared ineffective, (Cheers and great laughter.) I cannot say that I retired from the service from my own desire ; but it was ao broadly intimated to me that I was incompetent as a volunteer by the company to which I was attached that I was obliged to retire. I might have been more effective as a volunteer then than I am now; but all volunteers present will excuse me when I say that the volunteers will do all that the army and'navy ought to do. That is all I ought to say beyond that I was not exactly drummed out of the corps, but voluntarily retired upon a very broad intimation thitt it was right I should do so. (Cheers and laughter.) The CmetßaLui, in proposing the toast of the evening, said it was always difficult to speak of any man in his presence, but that difficulty was consi derably increatied when they had nothing to say of him but what was in his praise. (Hear, hear.) He wished Mr. W abater could possibly have been absent on that occasion; but as that was impossible, he would beg of him not to listen to anything which he was about to say. (Laughter.) Most of those in that room remembered the days of the drama in the time of the expiring glories of the Kemble dynasty, when the stage was adorned by such men as Liston, Kemble, Ward, Dowton, Fawcett, and many others whose names must be familiar to them, as well as the actresses Davenport, Miss Tree, and m any more. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) They had watched with interest the progress of the stage in our own times, and it must be a source of pleasure to them to find amongst them the last of that illustrious race now upon the stage in the per son of their friend Mr. Benjamin Webster. (Cheers.) But he w:as happy to say that, although he was the last living actor now upon the stage of that time, they had yet amongst them another actor of that period, who still survives, but who has retired to repose on his laurels—one of the greatest comedians that ever embellished the English stage at any period—Robert Keeley. (Loud cheers.) With re. spect to Mr. Webater's career, so far as he remem bered, his :reputation was commenced at Drury-lane. He was celebrated in his youthful days for the intel ligence he displayed in playing Shakspere's clowns, which required considerable histrionic ability, and an insight into character rarely to be met with. At first he played the character of Pompey in " Mea sure for Measure," and the circumstance under which he played it for the first time was interest ing, as giving a spring to the rest of his career, he having taken it up at a moment's notice in conse quence of Mr. Harley's sudden illness. It was so great a success, that it was the first step in that great career that had since followed, (Hear, hear.) Then came the abolition of the patents of the great winter theatres. It was not for them now to pro nounce any opinion upon that point. Some might think it wire, others the reverse ; but it was not necessary for him to say more than that that was a period of transition, when the patents were abolished and the stage was thrown open. He did not say too much for Mr. Webster, when he said that he was the pilot that weathered the storm in that crisis of the history of the stage. (Hear, hear.) From Drury-lane Mr. Webster passed over to the Haymarket Theatre, and for a period of fifteen or sixteen years he conducted that house with a con stant attention to the highest interests of the drama. He had watched his progress narrowly, and he was able to say that Mr. Webster had produced at least between 30 and 40 plays of contemporary writers, amongst which were the writings of Sheridan Knoles, Talfourd, and 'heir dear friend West/and Marston—(cheers)—and others. This was in addi tion to the great number of those which always eater into the programme of a manager. No man had been more prolific in novelties than Mr. Webster and no manager had his shelves more crowded with the dust covered manuscripts of modern authors, whose productions, though paid for, he had never been able to bring out. Mr. Bell then rapidly and effectively reviewed the career of Mr. Webster as manager of the Adelphi and other theatres, and his connexiou with the various charities connected with the drama, in very elo quent terms, and .then presented to Mr. Webster the testimonial, which was beautifully illuminated on vellum and handsomely framed, with the follow ing inscription : BENJAMIN WEBSTER. Who, by his natural ability, strict integrity, and unceasing diligence, has been raised to the highest position in the dra matic profession, and whose zeal on behalf of " The Poor Player" has placed him in the honourable position of Mas ter of the Royal Dramatic College, Master of the Drury-lane Theatrical Fund, and President of the Dramatic, Equestrian, and Musical Sick Fund Association, the firstnamed honour having been conferred upon him under the direct sanction of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, Patroness of the College. In the proud position of Master of the Benevolent Insti tutions connected with the Dramatic Profession, and having three London Theatres, one his own freehold, and two under his own management, he may joyfully look back to the com mencement of his difficult career, feeling himself an honour able representative of well-applied intelligence, strict honesty, persevering industry, and great kindness, since those qualities alone have obtained for him the high honour he now enjoys, and this expression of the sincere regard of those associated with him in giving effect to the purposes of the Royal Dramatic College. In the language of Shakspere ha may truthfully reply— " This is no flattery ; these are counsellors That feelingly persuade me what I am." London, February, 1864. He concluded thus :—Testimon;.als have sometimes been justly objected toe inapplicable to certain cases, but there is a rpeeial appropriateness in them in refer"" to t i " -.e actor, whose profession is the only one that is abullute,y personal, and whatever honours are paid to him must be paid in his life time. in the actor's occupation there is a combina tion of quaVties rare to find, which are called into acquisition under the 'very eyes of the public— gure, expression, grace, ; voice, deportment, and intelligence in the secrete of art which almost amounts to a kind of inspiration, for it cannot be taught, although it may be trained. Now this personal occupation must be carried out by the actor himself; he can delegate nothing to others. There fore it is that his triumphs are fugitive ; hie fame perishes with him ; he leaves not a wrack behind. - Unlike the author, the painter, and the sculptor, nothing remains of hie genius but a barren tradition_ His book is filled with the words of others; hi s pictures are painted upon air ; his sculpture is a phantom. He lives in a world of dreams, peopled by creatures of the imagination ; and when he dies, the phantasmagoria which he inspired with tem porary life vanish with him. (Loud cheers.) Mr. WEBSTER, who was very much affected, on rising to reply, said :— Gentlemen—friends I will call you, and I believe truthfully —eves though it is said that a man of many friends may at some time need one—this is the second honour conferred upon me, firs: in my esteem, because a larger experience of my services has not proved that I have been found wanting in your consideration, nor your re gard for me moulted one feather ; while your kind intentions, conveyed to me by my old and good friend, Mr. Robert 8011, have so overpowered me, that no words can express to you what I feel. This is no fable. To be twice honoured, as I have been, in this especial way, cannot but convince me that I have done the drama's state some service, and they know it. As your worthy chairman proceeded in his flowery harangue of the choicest language, 1 felt my powers of utterance waxing smaller sad • smaller, until I could have exclaimed with Othello, " Silence that dreadful Bell! it frightens the power of speech out of me." But my honour is at stake, and I must redeem the pledge with unalloyed grati tude. The memorial you have presented me with is not gold—it is not the silver-capping process for the exhibition, but it is an illuminated page in the history of my life, given as an honest token of friendship and esteem to a man who can honestly say he has done his best, without a thought of os tentation, for his brotherhood; and could memory hold a seat in this dramatic globe as long as I could wish, it would be gratefully remembered for ages to come. I have been strongly and flatteringly al luded to in se many phases of my profession, that I am almost fearfal your chairman has laid himself open to criminal proceedings for the number of good characters he has given me; but in my future conduct I will endeavour to save him from such a dilemma by proving, if I can, that he did not much overstep the bounds of prudence in his opinion of the past. First, the player—and I have been a very poor player, both on and off the stage, mentally and physically—and in those times it was fortunate that I was not a poor player on the vio lin —that has often stood me in need. And to prove that music has its uses as well as charms, I will tell you one ower true tale of myself and my fiddle. Before I was nineteen, with very small means and no resources, I had linked myself to a widow with a ready-made family. Actors are prone to this sort of thing, and it often mars their advancement in life. They cannot always get situ ations together; if they do, the salary is less for the united pair than if they were two and distinct ; but the husband has to fight the battle of two in stead of one, as to parts, Esc., and consequently is sel dom out of hot water,and often out of an engagement. Then a large family is the consequence, for actors are very prone to that sort of thing too, and ambition be comes blunted or blighted in the submission to circum tances for the provision of food—•for actors are also prone to sacrifice everything for their child dren ; m tie revenons a nos moutons, I was placed in the predicament I have described, without an engagement or the possibility of going to one if offered in the provinces, for money I had none, and my uncle was inexorable, and withheld from me all that would produce, as poor John Reeve styled it, the " possibles." " Oh, my prophetic soul, my uncle !" I walked to all the neighbouring towns where the shadow of a company was, but returned sadder than I went, and almost hopeless. Day by day I got deeper into debt, and poverty in debt is nearly allied to absolute misery. One day a ray of light crossed my dark fate. I heard that Mr. Beverley, of the Tottenham-street Theatre, now called the Queen's—the father of that great scenic artist who now wields the brush where my dear friend, Clarkson Stanfield, once held magic sway, and who has honoured me with his presence to day—who, in conjunetion with another great artist, David Roberts, gave a sum to the Royal Dramatic College. We all went into Old Drury at the same period ; and like John Anderson and his wife, we have climbed the hill together. I have diverged again, but " should auld acquaintance be for got ?" If so, what would have become of me ? I must now on again. Mr. Beverley was about to open the Croydon Theatre for a brief season. I applied to him for walking gentlemen ?—Full. For little business and utility ?—Fall. For harlequin and dancing ?—Didn't do pantomime or ballet ; be• sides, didn't like male dancers—their legs didn't draw. For the orchestra ?—" Well, said he, in his peculiar manner, and with a strong expression unfit for publication, "why, just now you were a walk ing gentleman." "So I am, sir ; but I have had a musical education, and necessity sometimes compels me to turn it to account." " Well, what's your in strument ?" " Violin, tenor, violoncello, double bass, and double drums." "Well, by Nero!—he played the fiddle, you know—here, Harry (calling his son), bring the double —no, I mean a violin— out of the orchestra." Our son Harry came with the instrument, and I was requested to give a taste of my quality. I began Tartini's Devil's Solo, and had not gone far when the old gentleman said that would do, and engaged me as his loader at a guinea a week. Had a shower of gold fallen on me it could not have delighted Dance more than myself. I felt myself plucked out of the slough of despond. I had then to support, board myself, and get out of debt. I resolved to walk to Croydon, ten miles, every day to rehearsal, and back to Shoreditch, on twopence per day—one pennyworth of oatmeal and one pennyworth of milk—and I did it for six weeks, Sundays excepted, when iudulged in the luxury of shin of beef and ox cheek. The gentlemen in the gallery pelted me in the orchestra with mutton pies, and in this pitiless storm we started, as the pages of our music books could testify ; at first in dignation was uppermost, but on reflection we made a virtue of necessity, and collecting the fragments of the not very light pastry ate them under the stage, and, whatever they were made of, we considered them ambrosia. At the end of the sixth week I had so pleased Mr. Beverley and his son Harry, that I was asked to give a specimen of my Terpsichorean abilities as a sailor's hornpipe for our son's benefit, with a view to an engagement for Harlequin at the now Queen's Theatre, Tottenham-court-road. I essayed the task, buoyed up with hope, dashed on to the stage, got through the double shuffle, the toe and heel, though feeling faint, but at last, despite every effort, I broke down from sheer exhaustion of strength consequent upon a near approach to star vation, the curtain dropped on one of my hopes, and 1 burst into an agony of tears. However, this mourning was soon turned to joy, for Mr. Beverley behaved like a father to me, took me by the hand, bade me cheer up ; that he had seen enough to know what I could do, and engaged me as walking gentleman and Harlequin for his London theatre, where I made my first appearance as Henry Mor land in the " Heir at Law," which, to avoid legal proceedings, he called " The Lord's Warming Pan," From the Tottenham-street Theatre I went to the English Opera, now the Lyceum, from there to Drury-lane, Drury-lane to the Haymarket, from there to Covent-garden, the Olympic, the Acielphi, and here I tam, such as I am. During that long Peric".;l did not, like Cse3ar, thrice refuse the crown but I thrice left the stage in despair at ever arriving at eminence, and, in my mind, not to be something was to be nothing. At the time I way called on at a very short notice to enact Pompey in " Measure for Measure," I had started and was doing well as a bookseller, being well versed in old and rare literature. Harley could not play the part through a serious attack of opthalmia. Every place in the theatre was taken through the great cast of the piece, including the names of Macready, Liston, Richard Jones, Little Knight, Terry, James Brown, Gattie, Pope, Bunn, Lydia Kelly, Mrs. Harlowe, &c. Atter trying every one, both in and out of the theatre, except your humble servant, Mr. Bunn, the stay-manager for Mr. Elliston, thought of me, and the number of parts I had studied for him at an hour's notice when under his management at Bir mingham. "At all events, he will be perfect" said he, and the part was sent to me at three o'clock in the afternoon. I was gone to Paternoster-row in , my way of trade, but my folks thinking it a capital chance, returned answer it would be all right. I did not return with my blue bag full of publica tions until half past five. When I was told of the circumstance I was horrorstruck. I ran to the theatre. No official was there. What to do ? " Set to work at it," was the reply, " You have done as much b e f ore ." B ut not w i t h S hakapere, . and London. I received a very cold reception but the audience warmed to me at the end of the first scene. At the termination of the great tale Pompey has to tell, three distinct rounds of applause greeted the poor unknown player ; and the courage I had screwed up to this point sunk into my shoes, and I could scarcely carry them off. The success of the revival was complete ; all the great actors came round me ; I was led in a sort of triumph to the first green room, into which my salary did not entitle me to enter; and the Press pronounced my performance the great hit of the evening. It is impossible for any one here to comprehend my excited feelings. While speaking of his connexion with the Drury lane Fund, the Sick Fund Association, and the Royal Dramatic College, Mr. Webster said—l hope with respect to these charities, they will prosper, CHARING 'CROSS. not forgetting the General Fund or that of Covent garden. We have built and furnished with every comfort twenty residences for artists of the his trionic profession, with a magnificent hall for the collection of everything relating to the drama, either in pictures, books, engravings, or curiosities. I have received the pleasing information from the talented Miss Braddon of the gift of another house, to be called the Aurora Floyd house, as a compliment to my representation of Softy, which reflects honour on her and her heart. The appeal I have made to the Tercentenary Committee for the College, and the school of theßoyal Dramatic College to be called the Shakspere School, and to be endowed with scholar ships like the Harrow and Rugby Schools, has been warmly received, especially by the London com mittee, who are desirous of distinctly making it a part and parcel of their scheme. A number of offers have been made to me in the kindest spirit, and among them the celebrated artiste, Miss Glynn, had thrown her whole talent into the scale to benefit the plan she most enthusiastically approves. In the course of further remarks Mr. Webster said—All managers must be more or less dramatists. Many and many a popular author's piece would have been damned but for the suggestions of the manager. Shakspere was a manager, and so was Davenant, Sheridan, Garrick, and others, down to our present time, and their practical knowledge helped their success. Now, I know of authors turning managers, or rather lessees, whose power, though not evidenced in the bills, has weight behind the curtain as to what shall or shalt not be produced; but this is special pleading. Young authors complain of managers on the impossibility of getting their pieces produced. Now I can a tale unfold on that head. To please Manager Morris, I took the City Theatre, in the classical regions of Grub-street. At the end of my term I was indebttd £5 to Mr. Davidge for rent. I pleaded loss, and urged that he ought to forego the £5, and he, with that boishom mie of manner for which Douglas Jerrold has cele brated him, said, " I don't mean to oppress you my dear boy; so, instead of paying me the £5, write me for it a two-act domestic drama in the style of the Wreck Ashore.' " My circumstances only made me too glad to accept the condition, and I wrote him the original drama of " The Golden Farmer," on the backs of the stage letters of the Olympic Theatre, whilst his boy waited for the copy, so that I never read the drama con secutively, nor have ever seen it acted. It was a great success, and Cumberland the publisher offered me £5 for the copyright; but that good, kind crea ture, Davidge, finding I had no other copy refused to give Cumberland one, and I was minus the £5. He kicked a poor deformed call-boy out of the theatre. This boy had been making a clean copy to prompt by, and brought it to me for some assist ance I had rendered him. I published it, saved the copyright to myself, which would have been Cum.. berland's if Davidge had let him have a copy, and the piece has since returned me hundreds, made the fortune of an actor in America, and brought me large offers to write a sequel. I shall conclude by wishing you all the happiness you could wish your selves, and heartily Offer my thanks in triple tone to you, As author, manager, and actor too. Mr. Webster resumed his seat amidst loud and continued plaudits. Several other toasts were given and responded to in the course of the evening, the proceedings of which were very much enlivened by the perform ances of a vocal corps under the management of Mr. F. Kingsbury, consisting of Miss Rose Hersee, Miss Lahr, Mr. J. Gwynne, and Mr. Chaplin Henry, all of whom gave their services gratuitously, and better singing has rarely been heard of lute years in London. The dinner and wines amply sustained the high reputatio❑ of Messrs. Elkington and Co., the proprietors of the Freemasons' Tavern. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE, The half yearly meeting of this company was held yester day at the South-Eastern station, London-bridge ; the Hon. J. Byng in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said that though the station at Charing cross was not completed, the line had been opened, and, as far as it was possible to judge, there was every reason to be lieve that the most sanguine expectations of the proprietors would befulfilled. The Cannon-street Extension works were making rapid progress, and it was intended to provide a foot way on each side of the railway bridge across the Thames, the tolls of which it was believed would yield a large re venue. In reply to a question, the CHAIRMAN said he hoped the capital raised to complete the railway to Cannon••street would be sufficient to carry out those works, Mr. PARKER stated that the property in hand was worth £500,000. The report was then unanimously adopted and the retir ing directors re-elected, as also Mr. G. Smith, the retiring auditor. £105,424 had been expended, leaving a balance of £10,027 due to the bankers. The report stated that the works were proceedingly slowly. The tunnel at New Mills was nearly completed, but several slips had occurred in the cutting near Strines, Notice had been given for a deviation in the Hay field branch and for an extension of time. The reports wore adopted at all these meetings, and the directors re-elected. LEEDS, BRADFORD, AND HALIFAX JUNCTION. Tho report of the directors states that, as the dividend of the Great Northern Company for the year 1863 was at the rate of £6 lOs per cent„ the directors of the Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Junction Company are able to announce a dividend at the rate of £7 per cent. per annum on £500,000 stock for the six months ending the 31st December last, and also a dividend at the rate of £6 10s per annum upon several smaller sums of share capital for several months of the past half year. Application has been made to Parliament for an act to amalgamate the two companies. RHYMNEY. The meeting was then made special, and the directors were authorised to borrow on mortgage any sum not exceed ing in the whole £233,40G, and a vote of thanks to the chair man and directors concluded the proceedings, THE 5171 , LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1864. The Case of the Pampero, enabled to run narrow gauge trains over the railway to the shipping places. There were coalowners who had a supply of narrow gauge waggons waiting for the opening of the company's narrow gauge line to send large quantities of coal from the colleries. He trusted that those facilities would enable them before long to pay better dividends to the proprietors. Mr. GILBERTSON seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. In reply to questions from Mr. 3. M. Parsons and Mr. Herepath it was stated that the Great Western were now using their best endeavours to complete the junction, but the delay had seriously affected the interest of the Vale of Neath Company, as the eipense of laying down the narrow gauge had not up to the present time yielded the return of a shilling. The company's shipping apparatus at Swansea would enable them to ship double the quantity of coal they were carrying at present. Resolutions were passed adopting the report, and declar ing the dividend recommended therein, re-electing the re tiring directors, and also Mr. Benson, the retiring auditor. . _ The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes terday at the Gray's-inn Coffeehouse, Holborn, Mr. Boyle in the chair. The Secretary read the report, which stated that the ex penditure on capital account for the last half-year had been £13,926, chiefly expended on the Bargoed and new Tredegar branches, which would be ready for traffic by the end of April. The revenue account for the half year showed that £27,571 had been received. After deducting working ex penses and providing for the usual charges and dividends upon the guaranteed stock and preferential shares, a balance remained available of £3,403, from which the directors re commend a dividend on the ordinary stock at the rate of 3 per cent, per annum, leaving £250 for the suspense account, and £296 for the next aeconnt. The works, permanent way, and rolling stock were all in good condition. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, esplaineti the reasons which had induced the directors to in troduce into Parliament two bills which were necessary for the due development of the traffic of the line, He was happy to say the undertaking was generally improving, as might be seen from the increased dividend 3. The estimated cost of the Cardiff line was £150,000, and that of the Mer thyr branches £50,000, an estimate which he trusted would not be exceeded. Mr. AUSTIN seconded the adoption of the report, which was agreed to, and the dividend was declared. Messrs. S. Cave, M.P.. and W. Austin, the retiring directors, were re..elected—Mr. Watkins was re-elected auditor. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the pro ceedings. On Tuesday, in the Court of Exchequer, Edin burgh, Lord Ormidale pronounced an interlocutor on the Pampero, the vessel which was seized on the Clyde on the information to the effect that it was intended to be fitted out and employed in the ser vice of the Confederate States of America. The de fenders pleaded that the information was bad in law, and called upon Lord Ormidale to decide, be fore sending the case for trial, as to the relevancy of the various counts in the information. Lord Ormidale in his interlocutor appoints the case to be tried by a jury on Tuesday, the sth of April, and in a note appended to the interlocutor says say :—" It appears to the Lord Ordinary that it is unnecessary and inexpedient in this case to dispose of any ques tions of law and relevancy before trial, and accord ingly he has followed the course which was adopted in the similar case of the Alexandra in Eng iand. So far as the Lord Ordinary can judge at present the defenders will not be precluded, merely by the case being appointed to be tried, from afterwards availing themselves from any plea in law and relevancy which is in itself well founded, but as the Lord Ordinary cannot prejudge any matter whatever, so he can give no assurance on the subject. The Lord Ordinary is not to be understood as holding that cases may not occur where it would be proper, as well as com petent, to dispose of cases of law and relevancy be fore trial, although it must always be desirable to avoid, where it can be done with a due regard to the interest of the parties and the ends of justice, a double course of litigation with the attendance of expense and delay. In regard to the expediency in the present case in not disposing of the questions of law and relevancy which have been raised by the defenders, there can be little doubt. According to the defenders' own showing, the information is not wholly irrelevant; and even as regards those parts of it to which the defenders' objections, as stated to the Lord Ordinary, apply, at least some of them may be affected by the evidence at the trial. The defenders' arguments on relevancy may possibly be also superseded by the course which the case may take at the trial. Till then the whole facts and circumstances of the case have been fully disclosed at the trial, it would be unsafe, if not impossible, to decide how far the information is or is not main tainable under the statute on which it is laid." LANCASTER AND CARLISLE. The half yearly meeting of this company was held at Lancaster on Tuesday—Mr. E. W. Hassel in the chair. A dividend at the rate of 10/ per cent. per annum was de clared upon the consolidated stock for the half-year ending Dec. 31, and a further dividend at the rate of 41 per cent. per annum was declared upon the 41 per cent. preference stock for the same period. The CHAIRMAN said the next business was the considera tion of an important arrangement pending between the London and North-Western Railway Company and the Midland Railway Company, in which this company was largely interested. The Midland Company had been fur some time anxious to carry their traffic through into Scot land, and therefore they meditated constructing a rival line to the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway. The London and North-Western Company, being the lessees of the Lan caster and Carlisle Railway, were extremely anxious to prevent the making of such a rival line, and therefore they proposed to procure an Act of Parliament, by which they agreed to grant to the Midland Railway the use of the Lancaster and Carlisle line, in order that they might carry their traffic into Scotland. He was very glad to see that these great companies were now coming to their senses, and that, instead of setting up rival lines one against the other, and thus entering into a mutually destructive competition they were making amicable arrangements by which the shareholders on both sides would be benefited. In autumn some of the directors of this company had a conference with Mr. Moon, the chairman of the London and North-Western Railway, and he proposed that they should enter into a new lease with the two companies, having a dividend of 91 per cent. per annum guaranteed to them. It was thought by some of the directors of this company that 9/ per cent. was too low a dividend, and the negotiation, therefore, went on, though it was not unlikely that had the dividend been fixed at 10 per cent, it might have been agreed to. The result was that the bill he had spoken of was introduced into Parliament by the London and North-Western Com pany. _ _ _ After a long discussion, a resolution authorizing the di rectors to petition Parliament against the Bill was adopted, BRISTOL AND PORTISHEAD. The half-yearly meeting WAS held yesterday at Bristol, Mr. J. Ford in the chair. The report stated that since the last meeting very fair pro gress had been made in the business of the company. The engineers stated that the line had been resurveyed and set out since the passing of the Act, and property plans were prepared for the land throughout. The works would be lo , to a contractor as soon as sufficient land was obtained to en able him to proieed with the works, The amount of capital subscribed was £14,100, upon which £4,377 had been paid. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, con• gratulated the shareholders on the progress which had been made since December last towards commencing the works. It now only remained to push on with every possible vigour The scheme was complete in itself from the river Severn to the city of Bristol, which they had every reason to believe would be constructed within the estimates and in a much shorter time than was originally anticipated. Mr. J. ABRAHAM seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The retiring directors and audit ors were re-elected, and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. CHESHIRE. A meeting of the Stockport, Timperley, and Altrincham Company was held on Tuesday at the Sheffield Railway Station, Manchester, Mr. James Marshall in the chair. The report stated that £58,225 had been expended to December 31, making a total outlay on capital account of £156,929. Five and a half miles of single line of pavement way had been laid, and it was hoped to complete the works by autumn. A meeting of the Stockport and Woodley Junction Com pany was held, at which Mr. Marshall also presided. £75,192 had been received, and £65,272 expended at the 31st December. The receipts on the line were increasing satisfactorily. A dividend of 4} per cent„ payable' on the let of March, was declared. A meeting of the Marple, New Mills, and Hayfield Junc tion line was also held at the same offices as the above, Mr. N. Buckley in the chair. £95,397 had been received, end STRATFORD-ON-AVON. The report of the direct3rs states that the balance of the half year (Z 1,369) admits of a dividend on the ordinary shares of Ss 6d per share (at the rate of £2 2s 6d per cent. for the year ending the 31st December), which they recommend should be declared. LAUNCESTON AND SOUTH DEVON. The report to be submitted to the half yearly meeting on Friday shows that satisfactory progress has been made in the execution of the works, and that arrangements have been made by which the expense of a tunnel will be saved. The directors hope that at the expiration of another six months they will be enabled to name some definite time within which the undertaking will be completed. CENTRAL NORTHUMBERLAND. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Saturday at Alorpeth, Sir J. Swintume in the chair. The report stated that since the last half-yearly meeting the line had been staked out, and negotiations for the pur chase of land and settlement of tenants' claims had pro gressed. Terms had been arranged with the owners of land from the southern terminus of the line to Rothbury, and likewise for several miles at the northern end. The direc tors regretted that the capital had not been subscribed to the extent required, in order that the contractors might simultaneously commence operations on the railway, and that in the event of the deficiency not being supplied the part of the line between Scot's Gap and Rothbury could only be proceeded with at present. Mr. R. HoposoN moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. 80La.31, and carried. Bali Grey, Sir IL St. Paul, and Mr. H. Hodgson were appointed to wait upon the contractors and consult with them as to the commencement of the works. WANSBECK VALLEY. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held at Morpeth on Saturday, Mr. R. Hodgson, M.P., in the chair. The report stated that the traffic receipts for the half-year ending Jan. 31 were £1,113. It was anticipated that front the Elf-hill Limeworks and from the mineral field on the western portion of the railway, about to be opened by Sir W. Armstrong and Co., the traffic on the Wansbeck Rail way would, on completion, be largely augmented. The di rectors recommended that the balance be carried over to the credit of the next account. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, remarked that there was an immediate prospect of an in crease of revenue from minerals, and it remained for the shareholders to endeavour to get the line completed between Morpeth and Redeswater, when the through traffic would commence. He had no doubt the opening would take place during the present year. He hoped they were now approach ing a period when they would receive a good dividend. Mr. J. HOOD seconded the motion, and the report was adopted. Messrs. J. Hood, G. A., Grey, and N. Wright were re elected directors. Sir J. SWINBURNE moved that a committee of share holders be appointed to consider the best means of increas • ing the traffic. The mution was negatived, and the proceedings termi nated. WIIITEHAVEN AND FURNESS JUNCTION. The directors' report states that the gross receipts show an increase of £4,315 over the corresponding six months of :862, while, after appropriating an additional sum of £l,OOO to maintenance of way account, the working expenses have only increased by £1,739. The traffic receipts for the half year ending Dec. 31 amount to £22 897, against £18,583, and the expenses to £10,826, against £9,088 for the corres ponding half of 1862. Looking at the great increase in the traffic of the line during the past 12 months, and the pro spect of its continued augmentation, the directors have thought it prudent to increase the amount agreed to be set aside each half-year towards the renewal of the permanent way and bridges, aad £2,000 has been appropriated in the accounts for that purpose. All renewals of rolling stock continue to he charged at once to revenue. The balance available for dividend on the original shares, after all pre• ferential charges have been satisfied, is £6,507, and from this sum the directors recommend a dividend at the rate of 51 per cent, per annum, leaving £251. On capital account £2,309 has been expended during the half-year in complet ing the doubling of the company's portion of the Cleator line, in lengthening sidings at various stations, and other minor works of improvement. Three new first-class car riages have also been purchased. The capital account shows that £490,761 had been expended, but in consequence of the great increase of traffic more rolling stock would be required, and as all the capital had been expended, additional capital would be required for that pm pose. FURNESS. Yesterday the half-yearly meeting was held at the offices, 9, Old Burlington-street—Lord F.C.Cavendish in the chair. The report stated that the traffic for the half-year had been very satisfactory, recommended that a dividend be de • dared at the rate of 9 per cent per annum, and that a sum of £5,000 be transferred to the reserve fund, leaving £1,400 to be carried to the next account. Daring the half-year 200 iron ore waggons and four goods engines had been added to the rolling stock, and, consequent oa the continued increase in the traffic, the locomotive power and plant had been con siderably increased. £6,432 had been expended on the re newal of the permanent way, of which .£1,500 was taken out of the reserve fund. Messrs. Brassey and Field had con tracted for the construction of the docks at Barrow, and had undertaken to finish them by October, !865. The works of the Furness and Midland line from Carnforth to Wennington would be commenced immediately. After some conversation, the report was unanimously adopted, the dividend at the rate of 9 per cent, per annum was declared, Captain Boyle and Mr, Nicholl were re elected. TAFF VALE. The half-yearly meeting of proprietors was held on Tues day at Bristol—Mr. J. Poole in the chair. The Secretary having read the report, The CHAIRMAN said it was withno ordinary gratification he met them to confirm the words of the report as to the continued prosperity of the undertaking. The 10 per cent. dividend had been fairly earned, and he had reason to be lieve that the enormous traffic brought down the line on the last half-year would not be exceptional. They had, how ever, every accommodation for a much larger traffic. They had paid off £120,000 4i preferential stock. A delay had arisen in preparing the agreement between the Taff Vale and the Penarth Dock and Hallow. Company. With reference to bills before Parliament, he said the Taff Vale was not singular in havin g raids made on them by speculative lawyers and contractors. (Hear, hear.) Direc tors of railways were placed in this dificult position— if a railway did not pay all their energies were directed to develops the traffic ; and if it did pay they had to defend themselves against the raids of those gentlemen to whom he had alluded. He was sorry to say they had made raids on them, but he hoped the vigilance of the Board would not fail to protect their interests. (Hear, hear.) As regarded tho proposal of the trustees of the Marquis of Bute to ex tend the dock accommodation at Cardiff, the Chairman said the Board were prepared to meet the trustees in Par liament unless the Taff Vale were admitted to a share in the general accommodation which all docks of such a capa city offered to tho public. The Chairman concluded by moving the adoption of the report. Mr. W. D. BusnEld, seconded the motion, which was adopted unanimously, and a vote of thanks to the directors terminated the proceedings. NEWRY AND ARMAGH. The report of the directors states that the gross traffic for the half-year ending Dec. 31 on the line from Newry to Gorah-wood amounted to £2,230, and the working expenses to £1,418, leaving a surplus of .EBl2, The works on the railway from Gorah• wood to Armagh were rapidly ap proaching completion, and the line would, it was expected, be opened for traffic about the Ist of April. Negotiations had been opened with the Ulster Railway Company for the use of their station at Armagh, and it was hoped the requi site accommodation would be afforded on equitable terms The old capital account showed on expenditure of £140,731, and extension capital account an expenditure of £313,429. VALE OF NEATH. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Friday at the Great Western Hotel, Paddington ; Vaughan in the chair. The report was taken as read, The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report. said he considered they had seen the worst, and that their property would go on increasing in value. The purchase of the Neath and Swansea Railway, and the laying down of the narrow gauge in addition to the broad gauge on their line would be of great advantage to them. The Neath and Swansea Railway enabled them to run their trains from the pits to the shipping places without delay or interruption. The good gradients on it enabled them. to work with eco nomy, so that the increase of 20 per cent. in the traffic as compared with the corresponding period was worked at com paratively small additional cost. If the traffic continued to increase they would require additional capital to provide ad ditional plant and accommodation for it. When the Great Western Company completed the short junction with their narrow gauge line the Vale of Neath Company would be THE MONT CENIS LOCOMOTIVE, A series of experiments has lately been concluded on the steep inclines of the Cromfoid and High Peak Railway, the object of which has been to prove the practicability of work ing locomotive engines and trains on a proposed railway over the pass of the Mont Cenis. These trials have been in the presence of the Chevalier Biglia, special commissioner of the Italian Government, M. Desbriere, delegate of the Victor Emmanuel Railway Company, and a considerable number of English and foreign engineers of distinction. The experimental line is 800 yen* and the inclined planes on it 330 yards in length, on gradients of 1 in 12 and 1 in 13, and curves of 21 and 31 chains radius. The adhesion required for ascencting,these steps gradients and ,for con trolling the descent of the train is obtained by the pressure of horizontal wheels on a centre rail, these wheels being at tached to the engine, and worked by an additional pair of cylinders. The experimental engine took up these inclines loads of 24 to 30 tons, consisting of four laden waggons, at a speed of seven to eight miles per hour, which rate of travelling, taking into account the increased speed that would be attained on the easier gradients of the road ,:would be sufficient to mitre the passage of the mountain, a dis•. tance of 48 miles, in four hours, by trains carrying 100 pas sengers each. The centre rail, besides affording the means of ascending and of controlling the descent, serves as a guide for passing round sharp curves, and also insures the safety of the train, which could not getloff the line, in consequence of the flags of the horizontal wheels, which underlap the centre rail, whereby the train is securely held on the line. The breaks applied to the three rails have perfect command over the train, which is readily stopped on any part of the inclines, and started again from that position without difficulty by the combined power of the engines acting on the vertical and herizontal wheels. The result of these trials, which during the last four months have been visited by many of the principal engineers of this and other countries, is considered to have established the practica bility of working locomotive engines and trains over the steep gradients of the existing route of the Mont Cenis. It it is proposed to lay the rails on a portion of the public road, protected where needful from avalanches and snow-drifts by a covered way. By this means railway communication may within two years be established between Italy and France, as well as the north and west of Europe, and continue until the opening of the Grand Tunnel of the Alps 111 years hence, the time estimated by the Italian Minister of Public Works for its completion. The railway over the Pass would then have reimbursed to its proprietors its cost with in terest, have for 10 years been a great public advantage, and have developed an important traffic ready to be transferred on to the tunnel line as soon as that should be opened to receive it. This project received the sanction of the Italian Government in the spring of last year, subject to the pre°. ticability being established of working steep gradients by locomotive engines and the consent of the French Govern ment being also obtained. The former having now, it is believed, been fully proved, it is to be hoped that the Em peror's Government will not withhold its sanction from a work of so great public utility. Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release from all debts and liabilities without publicity, by application to Messrs. Marshall, solicitors of the Court of Bankruptcy, Charges under Z 5 payable by easy instalments. Offices— (established 1830), 12, Hatton-garden. City branch-6, Moor gate-street, Bank.—ADVT. ADVERTISEMENT.]—Avoid medicines: they always aggra vate chronic complaints, but Du Barry's Delicious Health Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which saves fifty times its cost in other remedies, invariably cures them, restoring perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs. healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeebled. We extract a few out of 60,000 Cures :—Cure No. 58,216 of the Marchioness de Br4han, Paris, of a liver complaint, wasting away for seven years, debility, with a nervous palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessness, the most intolerable nervous agitation, and dreadfully low spirited.—Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieut. of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49,832. "Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms. sickness, and vomiting.—Maria Jolly." —Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derange. ment, and partial deafness.—Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.— Cure No. 54,816. The Rev. Jas, T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, "of indigestion and torpi. dity of the liver, which had resisted all medical treatment." In tins, 1 lb., 2s. 9d. ; 21b., 4s. 6d ; 51b., lls. ; 121 b., 225. ; 441 b 40s.—Barry Du Barry and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason ; and all Grocers and Chemists in very town of the United Kingdom. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. Post —The intelligent readers of an eminent contemporary must have been delighted yesterday with the ability with which the keenest satire was veiled by an affectation of pomposity, After a pass ing but pretty allusion to " conscience," they were informed, in a tone of greai self-glorification, that we had " rebuked the passions of a peo l ;!e without drawing a sword." This grehdiloquent staten:ect seems curious when the condition and tieticet of Gler , many are considered; but the key is given to it in a subsequent sentence, which leads to the conclusion that the whole article is an elaborate raillery. "They have been warned that treaties cannot be disregarded with impunity, nor settled frontiers violated without the peril of a fitting retribution." These ironical words were evidently penned with a vivid recollection of the facts that the Treaty of 1852 has been disregarded, is disregarded, and ap parently will be disregarded, and that the settled frontiers of Denmark have been successively violated in Holstein and in Schleswig, and are, lastly, vio lated in Jutland without retribution of any descrip tion being incurred by the violators. The Times, in the same vein, lauds the "sense of justice and right" of the Germans, and asserts that it has been aroused by the " British Government and the British press." This which would be mere bluster if our contemporary were in earnest, assumes its true value when we remember that the German sense of justice is a non-existent quantity, and that as such it cannot have been aroused. The Germans have thoroughly tricked and cheated the British Government; and as to the British press, we have all, in this case, been compelled to eat our words, for we were loud in promises of help which we have been unable to fulfil, while the sympathy of some of us has grown to be as cold as the sides of our iron elads. Were we to select an instance we should recall a recent article of the Mimes which distinctly told the Danes they had better make themselves over to Sweden, and leave the Duchies bodily to the Ger mans. We point this out, not to those intelligent readers to whom we have referred, who will read our contemporary in the only sense which he could surely have intended, but because these words of his may be misread abroad, and may be quoted as specimens of British boasting and " bunkum," at a moment when our reputation in foreign parts is held of very small account, and when such language may be received as being as unbecoming as it is singularly untimely. That the English Government has pursued the wisest and the safest course none can doubt. We have not embroiled ourselves in war. There is a pleasant vision of twopence in the pound to come off the income tax ; and if treaties and frontiers are treated as non-existent by armed Powers, we regret the misfortune, but we do not intervene except in the sense in which it is now the fashion to understand the word. If Russia, in defi ance of treaties and morality, oppresses Poland, we warn her that the consequences will be upon her own head; but we abstain from attempting to pre. cipitate that catastrophe by any act of ours. If Germany bullies and beats Denmark, we intervene to counsel concession and that becoming patience which is the exquisite crown of martyrdom. But under these circumstances it is not for us to talk big, and cry out—behold our mighty remonstrances are redressing wrong, and the British Government and the British press are settling all the difficulties of Europe! But when we come to the little fact hidden in the bushel of chaff which has been dusted up about it, we find that the great cry is, after all, only concerning a piece of news which is small indeed. Austria and Prussia refusing armistice, remaining in Jutland, consent to allow their repre sentatives in London to appear at a Conference to be held here. On this it is assumed that the Con ference will be held, and that the war will he con cluded out of hand "on a basis which will give tranquillity to the Duchies, and yet preserve the unity of an ancient and dignified monarchy." This pleasing illusion looming in the distance will, we fear, prove as intangible and fleeting a vision as the ghost of the new " spectropia," The con sent of several other Powers to the Conference has yet to be received,and notably that of Denmark. In another part of cur impression will be found a despatch from the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs distinctly asserting that " not until the for mer state of things is re-established in Schleswig" will the Danish Government renew its efforts for terminating by means of negotiations our conflict with Germany." The invasion of Jutland is not likely to have diminished that resolution. The Danes must also have a bitter recollection of the failure of every concession which they have made on the repeated pressure of their non-inter vening advisers. We should be really blind, too, did we not see that this acceptance of a Conference is only meant to neutralise our possible action in consequence of the invasion of Jutland. Throughout the negotiations, the two Powers, but especially the Cabinet of Berlin, have only played with us as it suited their convenience. They have availed themselves of our offices to make Denmark yield, but have invariably and persistently pressed on their egression. They deceived us as to the time of their entry into Schleswig, which they in vaded by a coup de main, to effect their purpose, whilst winter paralysed our arms. They knew that if they could perpetrate this spoliation they would be comparatively safe, for though England might have interfered when the Baltic should be open to aid the defence of the Danes, she could not, when the deed was once accomplished, attempt to expel the Germans. But spring is approaching, and with milder weather we shall receive milder assurances. Every trick of diplomacy will be used by men who are as cunning as they are unscrupulous. They will endeavour by all means to hoodwink England and to prevent the active interference which they at heart are afraid of. The analogies of this aggres sion with the Russian invasion of Turkey are sin gularly striking. The same desire tor peace kept our hands long from the sword. In the same man ner conferences were proposed, and in that instance held, with only the result of the famous Vienna note. The Danes, like the Turks, are battling like men and patriots, against superior numbers, and as cer tainly their noble struggle will issue in the same result. Sooner or later the hearts of men will be moved at seeing the fight of courage and honour against the fearful odds which back injustice and cruelty. It will be thought at last that even self interest, even the prosperity of future budgets and the true causes of England's greatness, are still, as them always to have been, inter wovenhistory proves endent upon the assertion and with and ot.; ) table laws of liberty and preservation of the imn: right. TimEs.—The House of Common.; fortunately for its comfort, can afford to be equally am,:sed whether it watches the perplexities of a Governmea:t which has to meet at once and by the very same RC's t variety of antagonisms, or follows a lawyer throue the logic of evidence and legal definitions, or hears the British merchant's simpler identification of his own and his country's interest with that of all man kind. Each of these parts, unexceptionable as it may be in itself, is apt to jar with the rest; and it is only when we consider that a country cannot consist exclusively of politicians, or of lawyers, or of shipbuilders, or of merchants, and that even if a country be ever so complete in itself it has still to get on with the rest of the world as peaceably and honourably as may be, that we learn to do justice to each actor in the scene. The shipbuilders of the Mersey are quite in the right to push their enter prises as far as law, and we must add policy, will allow. A lawyer has nothing to do but to see that everything is done according to law; and, if he is retained, that his client shall have the benefit of every doubt in the interpretation, every trip in the prosecution, every flaw in the indictment, and every prejudice that may be invoked. The ordinary com mercial Englishman may certainly protest against practices which tend to destroy the commerce and peace of all mankind for the benefit of a few ship building yards. Mean w bile, the Minister has to sign an order which is at once virtually a despatch to two Powers engaged in internecine war, a document in a lawsuit involving heavy damages, a parliamen tary paper, and a transaction of no slight import ance in the history of mankind. In all these aspects, too, he has to deal not so much with the thing itself as with a sublimer essence which represents it in the sphere of political action. His eventual responsibility to the nation, or the world, rides above legal technicalities, Parliamentary majorities, and material interests, and forbids too peat a conde scension to any. Yet in this country, at least, he can neglect none. In this is his greatness, and yet also his weakness. The joint in the Ministerial har ness at which the Opposition lawyers on Tuesday night were directing their shafts is the apparent fact that on a certain day, for reasons that appear not either in their communications with the Federal Government or in those with Messrs. Laird, Minis ters came to a decision of very great moment in de - taining the two vessels of war which it was morally certain were intended for the use of the Confede rates. Not one speaker in the debate could venture to insinuate the smallest doubt that the steam rams . were built at the order and for the use of the Con federates. This was a truth patent to the whole world. Each vessel as it lay was an armament, being furnished with its weapon, and the means to propel that weapon into a hostile vessel. So far it was even more plainly a vessel of war, and more prepared for action, than a monster torpedo, or any other new device for destruction. The ram had only to take in its previsions, its coal, and its crew, whatever, indeed, was necessary to its navigation, and it was ready for action. Recent experience had shown that an expedition could be prepared piece meal in British waters, or, at the most, in their neighbourhood, and that it could be despatched on an errand of wide-spread destruction, without so much as touching at a single port of the Power ft for whi . ch . was acting. That experience rendered' Here wil t° probability in this instance a certainty. a . n expedition .. preparing to sally from our Por ts be inflict . te . rrible injuries on a friendly pow er ' at Opposition lawyers grant that its destination rui.gdie be not . only notorious, which with them 10 " 111 ; 1 „, to gossip, but morally certain—as certain, that.'"fid say, as that the convicted burglar who is 16 : 1 ,,, about your premises with housebreaking irl°'l%-t ments inte . nded to force an entrance. Governineni, was certain ; the Federal Minister was cartaini.a th e wen d was certain. It was a simple t 1 repeti7 of the former " scanda l, " with but a specious nisi ference, and even wiili aggravation. On this mant certainty Government acted, a nd detained th ate rams. No doubt it was an net of MiDisteriala resPt; to sibility. As suc, of course, it is open fur withholdingh Parliamentary confidence; end lY if the House of Commons wishes, it can innae.diata release the steam rams, and send them on their w et 9 of death. But what has been done ? The lawY,. e h r e have been employed to vindicate the right of . 1 , 0• Caurts to dispose of this matter in their own al l° If the Courts should decide , or never decide, ° t!)at the steam rams were only a s the Alexandra, that the steam rams were only as the AlexaflJtS thal the Alabama might have safe l y defied set fire, t, that the Oreto bad been Lawfully released, 1° team r amp nothing had occurred to ta ke the twos tea m re,T a out of the category of powder and small armst t h i s sent in shiploads across the Atlantic, the° ma y expedition should h a ve sailed, and Enl4nd laW some day have to priy heavy bill or bad Such is a lawyer's view o; arity land wilt be glad to believe !ha ing not only the peace and prop, t in a ques not! an o ' n ' tv the matter ; . 19 ° r , ) , ° ,, t i. of this f f peace ," pa , try, but the lives of myriads and : be a nao . ral ei ; wh ola world, a statesman may act on tainty, even though he is not bound ini'ma' dia l t caee publish the grounds of it, and lay his why- a ,sllO before the remonstrant Power and the dom. opponent and the rival faction. We tril e le that we . are not more ready than most P erri n to submit to unlawful demands, or to st ra . a . e the law to satisfy pique or allay fears. Nor ( I °. bow t . o any in our reverence for legal interprets twat, and judgments. But here is a case so pie° tba a, there cannot possibly be two opinions about it, e l) o f in fact, there are not two opinions. The fiC t t li be M. Bravay and the Pasha of Egypt can cil li i ta te i; mentioned with a smile. Of course the certainty of the case could not be alleged ezc e P t the gro . un . d . of ahe public safety, and on the Bole responsibility of Government. ut this is ei l le a ate peace or war—of life or death ; and with the, a 'i tta as they are, posterity, we cannot doubt, woulurao tify the Federal Government in demanding rePri:-ef for the . damage done by these steam rams. 11 11 a course, saying nothing about the Alabama, ver,c-cht throws light on the steam rams, but received to from them... What has been done, then, we aolJ 0t be quite within the competence of a GOVernineei chargeable * with the peace of the world. The e P ee he of the Solicitor-General is conclusive as te t et itself i e A example the American Government has us,. and the treatment they have accordiugller right to expect from us. In what qu arter - r " 00; interest . lies is manifest to a child has children," says 'Bacon, " has giv . en Pledg es a t h fortune ;" and we have covered the ocean Se pledges to peace and international justice, hip s, great ocean tracks are crowded with huge ships, thousands of miles from home, but often coulPe to pass round stormy capes and through li t ' n r f r ten straits,.. laden with the most valuable producef';- dr with immense sums of gold, not always wel l , " a -ti f i aa r and almost always undermanned. WO i o ta Ala Lamas to wait for them, they would dr o p ; 0 10 the grasp of the privateer like stifled pheasants ; 30 , 0 the poacher's bag. Every day would bring phe a War as a n t of a score of such captures, supposing we b aci i , hed with anybody whatever, and it had been eats or that an Alabama, might issue from any a ware' P oe , to destroy our commerce under the flag of ° A t ' o ne Accidents, of course, cannot be averted, an tber Government may be cheated as easily es eithe r; may i be outraged without refl ec tion upnl" - the w orldt but f the outrage was foreseen by all the het cheat transparent, and a moral certainty cull we by an obstinate and perverse blindness, th ey me may well doubt whether we should be able to War enormous compensation or avoid a sanguint°,,Jejeat upon the evasive plea that the British Gevr— had no power to interfere. COUNTRY MARKETS. LYNN—TUESDAY. freq tie° • The weather since Friday has been cold, w't lt ao od a f t snow storms. At to-day's market there wasl i eb r otigua tendance, but only a small show of wheat, whiej3,oo an fully the prices of last week. Barley firm. 36° peas met a slow sale. 31 5 t° White wheat 44s to 46s f Barley '''''' 3.2 e W 0 40 RA .. 4os to 42s I Grinding ..... •••,,o s to Beans .338 to 35s I Oats ..... tO New 34s to 36s I Peas ............ --- HULL—TUESDAY. A o reSs ed ' Since our last the wheat trade has continued -e,. to ter , the few transactions being entirely of a r etail ° b chea t ' At to-day's market there was a fair show of Eng li° l 'ers °.1 : f6 .• which sold slowly at last week's rates ;in foreign '' oace° nothing doing, holders not being willing to tuf° st'orts ill', sions. Barley, malting, sold slowly but grindingoo7ll6" fair sale, and not any lower in price. ' Oats a re 6 0 pd better to sell. Beans and peas dull. Ato 44s a Wheat.... um w hit ew .p er qr 42s 0- 4 v, 0, Old red 4os ° a t° 45° ( LI » ........ od to ~,, New white . 418 ‘,., ..„ 393 • . . , , ............... 4 ss ,:( )) ta , ro , „, 6 0 6 0 t , o New red ... 34s A Barley.... English malting • g Grinding ...... 24s 0d to t i c ', :II: V I Saal and Oderbruck ........ 3 's A W 3 ' . 00 Holstein and Dani5h........ 303 0 . 0 31s ~,i 2815 Oa" no e Grinding 228 Od to k oa Oats English, old to d os l2o 0 134 ' Archangel and Riga, per st 3 d to 3pd Friesland and Dutch OOl to Os 0 3 , 2 1d Swedish and Danish Beans ....English, old, per qr 42 0 " 2s " c l New pigeon Os °d t ,,, ° 33s ? ) 3 New tick. 4 30s Od 34 6 " - ,1 Egyptian od to ss ()- Peas Foreign boilers .. ........... 326 ad tr 5 08 Grinding .......... ...... s 0 d to „ A , v Tares ....Spring ocl to ', Od Indian Corn od to -25 1 Linseed, feeding 40S 11 ' ig 1 , 0 crushing Linseed cakes (Hull) øij .1 0 oto 9 0 0 815 oto 0 ° 0 Foreign! 5lO o to 6 10 Rape cakes Bones --- MELTON MOWBRAY—X trESPA .,, It hi ' v il e ' The following were the currencies —3 t 6 st° -- t e ; 41s Od to Cis Od ; new red, 38s Od to 42s pe r 3S s f "" o r beans, 39s to 41s for old; new sorts, 34s to 375 cr 660 barley, 34s to 37s for malting, and 295.24t0 3 15 I) 28g . gri ndin g ; new oats, lbs to 21s Od per stone the BRISTOL SUGAR—WEDNESDAT. 9 (r o e h a The market is q uiet and we have n o °bang j o zoo r s oi prices of last week to notice. Refiners' prodoe_e, o re demand than raw sugar, anl recent quotatiow maintained. Foreign Mail Packet Lit' __........_.-- MAILS DUE• ga r ' °:t. •,„ 4 14 Australia and Mauritius, via Southamptott.....P:4,r,.. 6. via Marseilles •..•''... IPZ" . B. Brazil and Cape Verde, by British p a c?tet••,•„,;(: • ..r,, e ,;; 3 , Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. kie's — „tev , ""; -. 2 1 China, Penang, and Singapore, via Soutbsoir ®toO•Feb. via Marseille° . , " b - 6 Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via SouthatriP" 'Feu' 0 6 via MarseilleB"''feb• '7. India (Bombay), via Southampton .... ••••I ‘ l6r ' ...... .. . .. via Marseilles .......... Di a ' 26. Portuga1.... • . F.. 2 , Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southaroptoo .. •' far• , -).„ via Marseilles ..•••' ...go . ....... 05 Newfoundland .... ,ve.... Oporto and Vigo .. packet.... D IL S. and British N. America, by Brit. et.. b, 26 by U.S. pac k ac ke . t . .f . e r , la. '. l*D r. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and TbyenCeanritfaod.l.4 ... P . .. • ... ... g e : • 2 1 9 1 Bahamas, via New York ................. ' Mexico. ......................................... (rob' MI parts of West Indies, including Chili. r' . / -- California. and British Columbia. ....... •"• _,---- ____---- --------...___—_____ Worces ter' Births. ALLSOPP.—On the 23 d in st., at Hindlig& near the wife of Henry AllsopP, Esq., of a son. gi ArtjAr DILLON —On the 23d inst., at Rome, ono3--e Dillon (nee Graham), of a son. the Wit O'RBILLy,--On the 16th inst., at Knock AbbeP.l. of Myles O'Reilly, Esq., M. 13., of a son an d b,ehip.vide 0f SA C N a p p v ta ° i lt n ri ii , 7stdthwerd23,dit.ilis.,t.o,faatsoGur.avesend 2 I'''. Marriages. . ,sot Callr D E db A oe ra li vi- E be — ri 1 d : r gE l l ed ° , w3ainaArdctuhOlisrned. the ni 23d otof j o hn n t ry , Difituet anSiiegte.:o:so iiiwclf:l3li ci." ter of the late Samuel Thoinas, Esq.' °` -it3e- Claremont Villa, Tulse-hill. PARES—PRATT: ~ - -i O . p n atrhkees2,4lqin. st o . l a li t a S n a l i f y t , lo . l . s% tsil t:i i : Hozier youngest daughter of th e ' late IlenrYl ' of Leighton-grove. Deaths. v. use Gran BROWN. —On the 23d just., at Graph •--° - filE 4. 08 thaw, Amy, relict of the late Joseph Broom' A- C o:N7is.cronwnoLfE John.Onctohnes2t Constable, just., surrey' Jape, at Dama ra, shire, Thomas Eastwood, age'd 72. EAsTwow).—On the 20th inEsr aAaßgerdin7d2l; Lode, 1:::: FORBES.—On the 22d inst., at Brighton, genrY of B. Forbes, Esq., aged 91. 5e43% , HANcE.—On the 22d inst., at Crank alo) tleo nti Hance, Esq., aged 76. fe. Anketell_re°d 61. MORpHY.—On the 22d inst., at Monaghan, Captain Edmond P. MorphYl " garriettf London 7— I s i trand , NDltk; ;I.s' and I"l.l,llshed hy WILLIA.3/ A 112 , of No. 112. Strand, Printer, at TOO SO Office, :No. _.,of iltllesex.—Thurosy, Foraary:2s, 1864' 'll the FreCillOt Ot the 3avoy, in the Goup,Y. ,Th , gent 4 ,14 04t i ohn v,! T A , ge A ll ke 4 4 !,4(1 140,